Athos Holy Mount

Athonite Paper Icons	4.10 The Archangel Michael tormenting the soul of the rich man 1858 Simonopetra Monastery Engraving Dimensions of copperplate: 57.8 x 41 cm Engraved on Mount Athos Engraver: Euthymios, hierodeacon
	Inscription: 'Δαπάνη Φηλοθέου ι(ε)ρ(ο)μ(ο)ν(ά)χ(ου):. χείρ Eυθυμίου ι(ε)ρ(ο)δ(ια)κ(ό)ν(ου):. 1858' (Commissioned by Philotheos, hieromonk:. by the hand of Euthymios, hierodeacon:. 1858:). The representation is dominated by the Archangel Michael, with wide spread wings. Dressed in rich military attire and with his cloak streaming in the wind, he is poised to pierce with his sword the body of the avaricious rich man, who lies at death's door on a carpet on a tiled floor. The archangel has both feet firmly planted on him, and with his left hand holds the rich man's half-naked soul by the hair. The rich man's head rests on a pillow, above which a small demon holds a full purse and a scroll reading 'Thou art mine, O covetuous one'. A second demon stands between the archangel's legs spearing the rich man with a spear. In the background his family and servants look on in sorrow, and the facade of his luxurious house can be discerned. Above is the title of the work in Greek and Slavonic, and below, along the border, is a quote from the Gospel: 'And There I Will Store All My Fruits And My Goods. And I Will Say To My Soul, Soul, You Have Ample Goods Laid Up For Many Years; Take Your Ease, Eat, Drink And Be Merry. But God Said To Him 'Fool! This Night Your Soul Is Required Of You'. The engraver, the hierodeacon Euthymios - hieromonk since 1859 - hailed from Mytileni and is known from 14 of his works (1856-59). He was engraver of Karyes who frequently included elements of folk art in his compositions, that gave his work a personal touch. At least seven other engravings done on the same iconographic model survive, of which two were chased in the same year (1858) as this one, also by engravers of Karyes, the monk Averkios and Ioannis Kaldis. The several engravings of this theme witness to the popularity it enjoyed among the faithful.
	Bibliography: Unpublished.
	H.I.S.
	Index of exhibits of Monastery of Simonopetra 19th century

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